"And give the women their dowries as a gift" (An-Nisa: 4). Qatadah said: It means: an obligatory duty.

Muhammad said: Opinions differed regarding the meaning of "a gift" (nihlatan). It was said: The meaning is a gift from Allah—may He be glorified and exalted—to women, as He imposed the dowry upon the man and did not impose anything upon the woman. It is said: "I gifted (nahaltu) the man," if I gave him a gift, and "I gifted the woman." Some said: The meaning of "a gift" (nihlatan) is: religious practice (diyanah), just as you say: So-and-so adopts such-and-such (yantahilu) as a practice, meaning: he professes it as a religion. And "their dowries" (sadaqatihinna) is the plural of "sadaqah"; it is said: it is the woman's mahr (dowry) and the woman's sadaqah. "But if they, of their own good pleasure, remit any part of it to you," meaning: the dowry, "take it and enjoy it without fear of any harm." Qatadah said: Meaning: what she has willingly given up without coercion; Allah has made it lawful for him to consume it.

Muhammad said: It is said: "The food was wholesome (hana'ani) and digestible (mara'ani) for me" without an alif. When they use "digestible" (mara'ani) alone, they say: "It was digestible for me (amra'ani)" with an alif.